Electric pad-heating device.



R. W. CHAPMAN.

ELECTRIC PAD HEATING DEViCE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.24.1915.

1 ,206.,O93. Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

by H wt 4AM "AWJ AH s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH W. CHAPMAN, OF OLIDTOWN, MAINE, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO T. M. CELAIEINIIAIIWS SONS COMPANY, OF OLIDTOWIN, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTRIC PAD-HEATING- DEVICE.

Patented N 0v. 28, 1916.

Application filed December 24, 1915. Serial No. 68,512.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, RALPH W. CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oldtown, county of Penobscot, State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Electric Pad-Heating Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

In the practice of medicine hot applications to a patient are frequently made by applying to the patient moist heated cloths" or pads, and such pads are usually moistened and heated by dipping them into hot water. Sometimes this end is accomplished by moistening the pad and then placing it in an oven for heating it.

My invention has for its object to provide a novel device for quickly and elhciently heating moist pads by electricity. The device comprises two electrodes, between which one or more moist pads to be heated may be placed, and means for mounting said electrodes so that they can be moved relative to each other into contact with said moist pads, and means to cause an electric current to pass from one electrode to the other through the moist pads. The resistance to the current afforded by the moist pads causes the generation of suficient heat so that the pads quickly become steaming hot. The device is very simple and furnishes a practical apparatus by which moist pads can be quickly heated without the inconvenience resulting from dipping the pads into hot water and wringing them on In order to give an understanding of my invention I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a vertical sectional view through a device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a view showing how the device may be used for heating a so-called sponge elec trode; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a pad which may be heated by my improved apparatus.

The device is adapted for heating pads of any shape, but is particularly applicable for heating fiat pads 1, such as shown in Fig. 4. Such flat pads'may comprise merely a plurality of layers of cloth superposed on each other or may be of that type made up of a piece of metal gauze over which are three or four layers of asbestos covered with cloth and provided with a rubber back to hold the same in place. The particular construction of the pad, however, has nothing to do with the invention.

My improved device comprises two electrodes 3 and 4E, each of which preferably has a flat face 5 to receive the pad. These electrodes are insulated from each other and are mounted so as to have a relative movement toward and from each other. The pads 1 to be heated are first moistened and then are placed between the faces 5 of the electrodes 3 and 4:, and the electrodes are moved toward each other so that the pads are clamped between them. An electric current is then passed from one electrode to the other through the pads and the resistance offered by the moist pads will cause a rapid heating of th pads so that in a few seconds they are steaming hot. When they are sufficiently heated the electrodes are separated from each other and the pads may be removed.

The electrodes may be mounted in any suitable way to provide for moving them toward and from each other, and to provide for passing current from one to the other through the interposed pads. The construction herein illustrated is a practical one, but I wish to state that the invention is not limited to the illustrated way of supporting the electrodes. The electrode 4 is shown as sustained on a base 6 preferably of insulating material, said electrode being Secured to the base in any suitable way. The electrode 3 is connected by a wire 8 to a suitable terminal 9 to which a circuit wire 20 is connected. The electrode 3 is mounted for movement toward and from the elec- 15 is a spring which encircles the stem 11;-

and is confined between the bearing 12 and the hand piece 16 at the upper end of the stem, said spring serving to keep the electrode 3 normally elevated. The electrode 3 is connected to the source of current supply through a connection 18 which extends from a terminal 19 on the base to which the circuit wire 20 is secured. The connection 18 is shown as extending from the terminal 19 through a suitable holder at the upper end of the post 14 and thence down through the electrode 3. The holder herein shown is simply an aperture through the upper end are placed on the electrode 4 and then the electrode 3 is depressed into contact with the pads and the circuit 20 closed through a suitable switch, such as 21. The current from. the source of current supply 42 then passes from one electrode to the other 'through the pads 1, thus heating them.

vWhen the pads are 'sufliciently heated the operator merely removes pressure from the hand-hold 16, thus allowing the spring 15 to move the electrode 3 into its elevated position. If the electrodes 3 and 4 should be accidentally brought together when there'is no moistened pad between them ashort circuit will be established which might produce some inju to the apparatus. I have, therefore, provided means for preventing the electrodes from being accidentally brought into contact with each other. While any suitable means may be employed for this purpose, I have herein provided for it by making the base 6 with the raised portion 23 around its periphery and surrounding the electrode 4, said raised portion extending somewhat above the electrode, and by making the head 10 of suflicient size so that it will contact with the I raised portion; 23 when the head is in its lowest position. The raised portion 23 is of sufiicient height so that the head'10 will contact therewith before the electrodes come into contact with each other, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and thus if the head is depressed when there is no pad between the electrodes, the electrodes cannot come into contact with each other, thus producmg a short circuit.

' It is sometimes desirable to heat what is known as a sponge electrode, such, for instance, as shown at 30. These sponge electrodes are usually in the form of a sponge carried on the end of an elongated Stem 31, To provide for heating the sponge electrode, I propose to mount the arm 13 so that it can be moved laterally, thereby carrying the electrode 3 to one side of the electrode 4. The plug 21 of the connection 18 is then disconnected from the socket 22 andmserted into a socket 33 in the end of the stem 31 of the sponge electrode, as shown in, Fig. 3. The sponge electrode is then placed against the electrode 4 and the current 1s turned on. The passing of the current through the sponge 30 will rapidly latter as will be obvious.

The hub of the arm 13 is shown as having heat the a slot 35 therein in which is received a screw 36 that screws into the post 14, said screw and slot serving to limit the lateral swinging movement of the arm 13. The purpose of supporting the connection 18 at the upper en of .the post 14 is to prevent the possibility of the plug 21 from coming into contact with the electrode 4 when said plug is disconnected from its socket and yet to provide suflicient length of flexible connection for any ordinary use of the apparatus; The connection 18 is so adjusted as to its length that even whenthe plug 21 isdisconnected from the socket 22 and the end of the cord hangs vertically, said plug cannot come into contact accidentally with the electrode 4. There is, therefore, no danger or possibility of any short circuits.

It will be noted that the electrodes 3 and 4 are protected and are insulated so that no shocks can be received by the person manipulating the instrument.

The "above-described device not only operates to heat the pads, but also acts as a sterilizer, for by heating the pads to a steaming hot state they become sterilized as well as heated. The device can, therefore, be used for sterilizing pads as well as for heat-. ing them.

While I have illustrated a selected embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the constructional details shown as these may be varied in many ways without departing from the invention.

I claim:

. '1. In a device for heating moistened pads,

the combination with two flat-faced electrodes insulated from each other and between which the moist pads may be placed,

means supporting said electrodes 'for movement toward and from each other, and circuit connections bywhich the electrodes may be connected to a source of current supply, whereby the circuit is completed through the pad placed between the electrodes.

2. Ina device of the class described, the combination with a pad-supporting electrode, of a coiiperating electrode movable toward and from the pad-supporting electrode but insulated therefrom, means to guide the movable electrode in its movement, and

means to limit the movement of the movable" electrode toward the pad-su porting electrode so as to prevent said ectrodes from coming into contact when there is no pad interposed between them.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with two flat-faced electrodes between which the moist pads may be placed, means supporting said electrodes for movement toward, and from each other, said supporting means having provision for insulating the electrodes from each other, means to limit the movement of theelectrodes toward each other so as to prevent their coming in contact when there is no pad interposed between them, and means connecting said electrodes to a source of current supply.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base, of a pad-supporting electrode sustained thereby, apost rising from said base, an arm extending from said post, a head vertically'movable in said arm, a cooperating electrode secured to the underside ofsaid head, and circuit connections for connecting said electrodes to a source of current supply.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base, of a pad-supporting electrode sustained thereby, a post rising from said base, an arm extendin from said post, a head vertically movable In said arm, a cooperating electrode secured to the underside of said head, means to limit the movement of the head toward the pad-supporting electrode so as to prevent said elec trodes from coming into contact, and circuit connections for connecting said electrodes to a source of current supply.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base, of a pad-supporting electrodesustained thereby, a post rising from said base, an arm extending from said post, a head vertically movable in said arm, a cooperating electrode secured to the underside of said head, a spring for holding said latter electrode yieldingly in its elevated position, and circuit connections for connecting said electrodes to a source of current supply.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

RALPH W. CHAPMAN. 

